Oil separator



U. H. NANCE OIL SEPARATOR Filed 001'... 8. V192'? /IL l l.; .i I l l ll|l Aug. 28, 1928.

Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

i UNITED STATES ORAN H. NANCE, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

OIL SEPARATOR.

Application led October 8, 1927.' Serial No. 224,984.

My invention relates to oil separators in general and particularly to anovel device for separating oil and other impurities from exhaust steamor condensate thereof in connection with locomotives equipped with afeed water heater of the closed type.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of a simple,inexpensive and highly effectual apparatus which will operateautomatically to remove oil and other impurities from the condensateofexhaust steam, thus permitting the return of the water in thiscondensate to the tank for reuse in the boiler, whereby the fuel, due tothe transferring of heat in the tender tank, will be conserved.

The scope of my invention extends to whatever constructions may bedefined by or included within the terms or language of the rappendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawing The figure illustrated represents a verticalsectional view of a preferred embodiment of my invention as applied to alocomotive tender tank.

My invention in the form or embodiment shown in the drawing and brieiiydescribed comprises a tender, 10, having a main water compartment, 11,which is separated from the coal compartment, 12, by means of thepartition, 13. An opening, 14, may be conveniently located for thepurpose of filling the tank, 11, with water, when desired.

At any convenient place within the water tank, 11, but preferably backof the coal compartment, 12, there is located a separate compartment,15, hereinafter referred to as the condensate reservoir, which extendsfrom the bottom of the water tank, 11, upwardly to and preferablythrough the top sheet, 16. This condensate reservoir is securelyattached to the bottom of the main Water compartment, 11, andwater-tight joints are provided at that point as well as where itextends through top sheet, 16, such joints being obtained by anypracticable method such as riveting or welding. A cover, 17, is fittedto the top of condensate reservoir, 15, in such manner as will preventthe escape of air or vapor around said cover.

A pipe, 18, extends throughout a greater portion of the length of thecondensate reservoir, 15, and is provided at its upper end with ahorizontal extension, 19, which is adapted to extend through an openingin the side of the said condensate reservoir to perend of this reservoirin which is located a 7 pipe, 20, of relatively small diameter. Sincethe escape of vapor or steam in cold weather may obstruct the vision ofthe train crew, I may plug up one end of the T, 21, which will7 ofcourse, force the vapor or steam downwardly through the pipe, 22.Although this pipe, 22, is shown as passing through the main watercompartment, 11, and surrounded by a tube, 23, of a larger diameter, itis obvious, of course, that this pipe, 22, may be conducted on the outerside of the tender in any suitable manner.

Condensate is drained by gravity from the feed water heater on'thelocomotive through the pipe, 24, which is preferably located near thebottom of the main water compartment. 11. Suitable coils or returnbends, 25, are adapted to be connected with the pipe, 24, so as to coolthe condensate to the desired temperature, from which point a pipe, 26.extends upwardly and into the inner side of the condensate reservoir,15, as indicated at 27, preferably at a point above the overflow pipe,19. It is to be understood, of course, that water-tight joints must beprovided at the points where the pipes leave and enter the variouscompartments.

For the purpose of emptying and cleaning the condensate reservoir, 15,without disturb ing the water level within the main water compartment,11, I provide a drain opening, 28, in the bottom thereof, which may beclosed by a valve. 29. The overflow pipes, 18 and 19, are preferablyformed of the same or a slightly larger diameter than the pipe, 27, sothat the liquid within the condensate reservoir will readily flow outthrough the pipe. 19, 'at about the same rate of speed as the liquidflows into this reservoir through the pipe, 27, thereby maintainingsubstantially the same level, within the condensate reservoir.

The temperature of the condensate is very high when it leaves the feedwater heater and as the result thereof, the oil is thorvoughly mixedwith the water forming what might be termed an emulsion. As the con*densate travels through the pipe and coils, 24 and 25, its temperatureis greatly reduced, however, and the heat is transferred to the waterwithin the tank, 1l, and the surrounding atmosphere. A greater portionof the condensate reservoir being surrounded by t-he greater body ofwater in the main compartment, l1, still further cools the condensate,after it enters the condensate reservoir, 15,` and thereby giving thelighter oils an ample opportunity to rise to the surface within thecondensate reservoir while the carbonized oil and otherheavierimpurities settle to the bottom.

Having, therefore7 described the various details of my invention, itwill be readily understood that this device will elfectually separatethe' oil and the heavier impurities from the water and, at the sametime, permits the return of the water in this condensate to the tank forre-use in the boiler conserving the water supply, as well as saving fuelbyftransferrng heat from the condensate to the feed water supply in thetender tank.

I claim l. In an oil separator, the combination of a locomotive tendertank, having a main water compartment, a plurality of longitudinallyextending coils located within the main water compartment for coolingthe condensate, a pipe arranged to .permit the liquid to How into thecondensate reservoir, and an overflow pipe arranged with respect to saidreservoir as to permit the liquid from within the lower portion of saidreservoir to pass upwardly through the overflow pipe and overflowing ata point substantially close to the uppermost end of the main watercompart1nent 2. In an oil separator, the combination of a locomotivetender, having a main water compartment, of avertically mountedcondensate reservoir separate from the water compartment and locatedwithin said compartment being closedat its lower end and extendingsubstantially above the top of said main water compartment as to excludethe commingling of water from said main water compartment, a pipearranged to permit the liquid to flow into the condensate reservoir, andan overflow pipe arranged with respect to said reservoir as to permitthe liquid from within the lower portion of said reservoir to passupwardly through the overflow pipe and overflowing at a pointsubstantially close to the uppermost end of the main water comp artment.

3. In an oil separator, the combination with a. locomotive tender tankhaving a main water compartment and separate therefrom, of a condensatereservoir arranged vertically in said compartment, a condensate pipehaving cooling coils and having communication with the upper end of thereservoir, an overflow pipe located within the condensate reservoir andarranged to maintain the liquid level therein to the substantial heightofI said main water compartment, and means for permitting the esc-ape ofvapor from the upper end of the reservoir.

ORAN H. NANCE.

